title: Life span effects of Hypericum perforatum extracts on Caenorhabditis elegans under heat stress.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The beneficial effects of antioxidants in plants are mainly extrapolated from in vitro studies or short-term dietary supplementation studies. Due to cost and duration, relatively little is known about whether dietary antioxidants are beneficial in whole animals' life span or not.
  
  
  METHODS
  To address this question, under heat stress (35°C), Hypericum perforatum was extracted with petroleum ether and the nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to three different extract concentrations (1mg/mL, 0.1mg/mL, 0.01mg/mL) of H. perforatum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We report that Hypericum perforatum extracts did not increase life span and slow aging related increase in C. elegans. Moreover, one fraction (1mg/mL) increased declines of C. elegans life span and thermotolerance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given this mounting evidence for life span role of H. perforatum in the presence of heat stress in vivo, the question whether H. perforatum acts as a prooxidant or an antioxidant in vivo under heat stress arises.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetic, Erzincan University, School of Health, 24100, Erzincan, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kılıçgün
authors.forename: Gülden
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Göksen
keywords: Aging; Caenorhabditis elegans; Hypericum perforatum; life span; thermal stres